Ali the Helering

Absolutely agreed, providing we also appreciate that Greg blurred the boundaries himself.

All in all, I think the problem is that humans try to organise things into systems, whether there is a system there or not. IRW shamanistic/animistic practises can be seen to work in a vast variety of different ways. Harner tried to organise everything into branches off his 'Core Shamanism', but that only went to show the limits of his imagination and understanding. Comparing Buryat Mongol practises with those of Surinam or Haitian Voudon, or even the 'Toronto Blessing', reveals a world of difference, not of close similarity. As for combination with ritual sorcery, one can find it the world over. (eg Evans Pritchard on the Azande) On Sunday I shall be leading theistic worship with elements of what might be identified as ritual magic, Eucharistic heroquesting, and even animistic appeal to the divine spirit. Resistance rolls, anyone?

Silly people. It is a map in the Great Ocean of a Ringworld.

Returning to the original question, I tend to ignore anything that simplifies religion. I don't think it can be sufficiently complex and bewildering! Therefore I pick and choose those elements that enhance mystery and mystification.

I think this says something more about RQ2 than it does about Glorantha. While Jon may have missed the reference, many of us would not check such RQ2 books as we may still possess. The ubiquity of magic may be deemed to merely 'raise Glorantha to RW levels' with the implicit understanding of Glorantha as a post-Catastrophic if not Apocalyptic world, but I agree with Jon that locally prevalent magics must inevitably distort the local economy. One Barntari hero with access to the cult secret can produce a centre of agrarian wealth beyond other areas' dreams. One Maranite can produce fresh open-cast mines on a regular basis, immensely increasing ore production.

If they slip on and cover his feet nicely, does that make Orlanth's deeds a 'Trojan' effort?

oops, iskallor s/b soltakks

Sorry if I came across as particularly snarky, it is just that I see us all as engaged in developing Greg's work, not altering it dramatically. I appreciate that a 2% difference may not appear that dramatic, but it is a two-thirds reduction. Given that in CoP days the Orlanthi Pantheon was considerably less detailed than it is now, that 2% difference could very readily be applied to others of that Pantheon. The figures 'seeming wrong' for me cries out for investigation and variation, not reduction. But as Iskallor correctly implies, all of our GWV!

In response to Tindalos In addition, Cults of Prax lists three percent of Praxian Trolls as worshipping Orlanth. David Scott wrote Personally I'd adjust this to 1% in light of the cult population number I've done for the Wastes. I have to say that I got used to being Gregged over the decades. Greg is, after all, the creator of Glorantha. Am I now to assume that we are to be Davided? If so, by what authority? Is it not more appropriate that David's cult population numbers for the Wastes be adjusted to match those of Greg?

I am afraid I have to disagree, because they are addressed to the greatest deity in the pantheon. Perhaps the Prayer of Ashurbanipal to Shamash http://jewishchristianlit.com/Texts/ANEhymns/pr$m$.html might be closer, particularly given the pseudo-Mesopotamian character of Dara Happa.

The information is, indeed, canonical in that it is by Greg, although anyone who has been Gregged knows just how much that means... The article also lists it as the primary weapon IIRC (lots of material still in boxes following house move), which does not imply that it would be used by skirmishers, but is the weapon of choice for the wealthy and well equipped. IRW I don't think many skirmishers carried swords until organised units of Spanish foot in the early medieval, but again, open to correction. Most skirmishers carried distance weapons, light shields if any, wore little armour, and went unencumbered by a hand weapon heavier than a small hatchet, club or knife. Which description certainly makes them unlikely to be the choice of your average player even if not a combat-monster.

Absolutely. The Mutually Assured Destruction of the two steadings that blossoms to consume the world as Kari hunts down the Burners is probably my favourite piece of historical romance. The trust between Njal and Gunnar that transcends such simple matters as tit-for-tat 'drive-by' axings and spearings is a joy, and would actually make for a glorious darkly comic tv mini-series. I think Neil Gaiman could script it nicely....

Within RW societies that utilised weregeld it wasn't up to the killer or maimer to assess the compensation due. Now, if the bag had a mailing address attached so that you could be followed up for an excess.....

Durn tootin', bro

Not really, except to say that I don't find the figure interesting enough to buy. At least with separate fixture points for each leg then, with a bit of modification, you could at least have some semblance of Chaos Features. The thing with the legs is, as you say, they are more crustacean than from the Order Scorpiones. If the figure was being sold as - say - a Crab Centaur, then that would be fine. Bagogi are, however, scorpion folk. Sorry if I appear a bit crabby.....

Lack of attention to detail? Or lazy modelling taking the easy route???

I have down a reasonably quick search, and I cannot find any RW scorpion with legs like those. I don't normally go checking the legs of arthropods.... I'm not that kind of guy...honest

I should have added that in the case of this Donald, shouldn't we all Duck?

The majestic Durulz are an example of a misunderstood race, despised and rejected for no other reason than speech pattern and external appearance difference. Consider - a strange creature with flappy extremities, bizarre mode of speech, and a tendency to explosions of rage. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you - the Donald! Making Sartar great again.....

Soltakss said Prepare a paper? I thought this was just a game, not an academic exercise. I think you will find that the various games are in other sections (Runequest, Heroquest etc), whereas this is the Glorantha section, which is, when all is said and done, a continuation of Greg's anthropological academic exercise.

True, so I think the split should arise earlier. There is also the difference between EWF and Middle Sea Empire influences.

Since air movement is essential for healthy growth of many plants, I would expect to find an air being as a helper-spirit for Aldrya.

I would have thought it would have a significant Darktongue influence.

My point is that the religions that are significant will have a potential impact on each and every tribe, but the particular local combos will have an overarching effect. A simple model for a tribe will in no way be a good indicator for the reality of each clan within it. That is where the outcome of the questionnaire interfaces interestingly with the suggested indicators.

Thank you David, that wasn't meant to come over as assertion of a disagreement, simply as a purpose. As I have said elsewhere, I fully acknowledge myself to be a pedantic simulationist! My files of clans occupy about a third of a bookcase as a result. My wife is very tolerant. Indeed Jon, playing around with, and trying to give local justification to the stats is great fun, and sometimes highly productive. A short foray into Humakt. Death Rune Affinity - 'Cutting through elements' could aid with irrigation, quarrying and mining, and 'destroying weapons and armour' cut down on the need for fresh bronze. Truth Rune Affinity - 'Swear Oath' could indicate a legal practise existing at the shrine, while 'sense disloyalty and identify traitor' could produce a highly unified, if somewhat smaller clan than usual. Mercenary income could lead one to expect a higher War and Wealth rating. Swords would be far more common than in most clans, especially if there is an Ingenew forge - remembering Tindalos' post above. Since the first requirement for an Ingenew smith is metallurgy, one might look for a greater frequency of metal goods in general. The Hiia subcult indicates (Storm Tribe) an ability at general land clearance (Cut Stone, Cut Wood) since his background doesn't indicate any animosity towards Mostali or Aldryami.